Scanner Vendors Unite for BLI
By Lisa Reider, Senior Product Editor, Scanners and Environmental
In a lively meeting, representatives from leading scanning vendors—Canon, HP, Kodak, Panasonic and Visioneer—volleyed topics from market trends to improving the value of BLI scanner testing. The forum marked BLI’s first Scanner Testing Advisory Committee (TAC).
Established in 2006 for BLI’s MFP testing, TAC meetings let vendors comment on BLI’s test methods, identify the peers they compete against and talk about how different market segments use products in unique ways. TAC meetings, both here and in Europe, touch every aspect of BLI’s work, while giving vendors a chance to interact. BLI’s inaugural scanner TAC was no exception.
An Energetic Beginning
From the start, participants eagerly shared ideas on revamping BLI’s scanner coverage. While many of BLI’s current test methods remain unchanged, the majority of test talk focused on simply adding more—more productivity tests with “typical” features enabled, testing additional types of media, more real-world OCR and file size testing, and new evaluations capturing the total user experience. “Helping BLI refine evaluation procedures benefits not only HP and the rest of the industry, but more importantly, the end customer,” said Craig Korfanta, HP’s competitive intelligence and technology analyst. “The surprisingly diverse perspectives of the various manufacturers really broadened my understanding of the overall scanner market.”
“Thanks to our knowledgeable participants, we were able to come away with a whole new understanding of the scanner market and what scanner consumers look for,” said BLI Managing Editor Daria Hoffman. “And we’re confident the result of this TAC will be reports that customers and resellers can’t live without.”
Successfully Implement MFP Scanning into Your Document Workflow
Today there are millions of MFPs populating workplaces in every industry. Organizations find MFP scanning appealing because they can combine scanning, copying and printing all on one device. These all-in-one devices allow companies to save money by getting rid of unnecessary technology, increase productivity because of higher page per minute output, and provide a way to add hardcopy documents into their electronic workflows.
With the growth of MFP scanning come questions about how best to utilize and how to take advantage of all the qualities a MFP can provide. Here are a few pointers to take the stress out of implementing an MFP into your document workflow.
· MFPs are not restricted to small-size documents! The MFP document feeder may restrict you to 50 or so pages, but by hitting the “scan more” button you can continue scanning for any number of pages.
· Scanned images from MFPs will not be larger file sizes than images from scanners. MFP scanning software includes image compression so even color pages can be reduced to as little as 200 KB per pages while retaining sharp text and good image quality.
· You can create searchable PDFs with MFP scanning. MFP scanning software allows you to create and save PDFs that are then available for text searches within documents and network folders.
Do-It-Yourself Large Format Scanning
Does your business offer large-format printing services? Here are some key tips and tricks that will help you remain productive when undertaking a large format scanning production and process.
Prep Your Documents. Large-format drawings can require a lot of repair and preparation. Always check for staples and notes—some of which may be attached to the middle of the document—and tape torn edges. If a large document has been rolled up and stored, it may need to be reverse rolled or flattened out for at least 48 hours. Dust can damage a scanner’s glass, so be sure to vacuum stored drawings. Don’t be scared to get out an iron and ironing board to get drawings flat enough to scan.
Sorting Methods. Determine whether your project’s drawings should be sorted by size and/or by quality. This minimizes the time spent changing settings during the scanning process. Remember that PDF and JPG formats have limitations—up to 100 inches—to scanning.
Drawings-by-Numbers. Consider applying a unique ID number based on project and drawing. Labeled stickers instead of stamps or ink, which bleeds on Mylar, will help identify that the drawing has been scanned. ID numbers also help with quality assurance and avoid duplicating work.
Juggling Paper
There are many companies with rows and rows and rows and rows of filing cabinets. They are always paper filing everything. Do you lose files? Misplace files? Is your company this way? All of these are dangers when dealing with hard copies of documents.
Almost all new copiers come with scanning these days, so there is really no excuse to lose documents. It’s a simple matter of properly tagging the file and making sure it follows the destination rules.
Many people that have 20 filing cabinets could pretty easily cut this number down, so why don’t they? Change in process can be hard.
For many, many years, copier machines have a standard mounting on the desktop or in schools. They were popular even before some computers. Copiers were used primarily to create black and white copies of the documents, or virtually anything that is on paper.
The first copiers have been produced as large, bulky equipment but because of technological development, there are many copier machines today that a very compact and many more features than their predecessors.
Document Scanning Solutions
Did you know, on average companies have to hire an additional employee for every 12 filing cabinets simply to maintain organization. This is just the beginning of what it costs to manage paper documents in an increasingly digital world.
Whether you are looking for a way to improve personal or professional productivity, capture and distribute paper-based information amongst workgroups, departments, and small businesses, or even blend multiple business applications from networked printers/copiers or scanners, Document Scanning Solutions can securely transform paper documents into business value. Paperwork is paper that works… Document scanning solutions turn everyday tasks into routine processes that take less time, involve fewer steps, and allow employees to accomplish more. Enabling document scanning services stop the inefficiency inherent in paper files and achieve greater productivity, better information management, and lower overhead expense-a benefit to any bottom line.
Document Scanning Solutions
Did you know, on average companies have to hire an additional employee for every 12 filing cabinets simply to maintain organization. This is just the beginning of what it costs to manage paper documents in an increasingly digital world. Whether you are looking for a way to improve personal or professional productivity, capture and distribute paper-based information amongst workgroups, departments, and small businesses, or even blend multiple business applications from networked printers/copiers or scanners, Document Scanning Solutions can securely transform paper documents into business value.
Paperwork is paper that works… Document scanning solutions turn everyday tasks into routine processes that take less time, involve fewer steps, and allow employees to accomplish more. Enabling document scanning services stop the inefficiency inherent in paper files and achieve greater productivity, better information management, and lower overhead expense-a benefit to any bottom line.
Buying a Printer or Scanner
Printers and scanners are an absolute necessity in every organization, business, office, educational institution, and more. The numerous brands and features of printers and scanners can vary anywhere from the numerous accessories, to the 
simplicity of black and white, color or both depending on the intended job.
Printers are available for specific purposes such as printers for mobile receipts, mobile thermal labels, network thermal labels and more. While some scanners can also be used for specific scanning purposes of photos, business cards, documents, and checks. Although some machines can accomplish both jobs of the printer and scanner.
Printers
The print preview option works out to be a great advantage as it helps a person to see how everything would look like in final, hard copy. Another advantage of printers is allowing storage of all the information in files for future reference with an ease and peace of mind that nothing important will be lost.
Laser printers, print quickly while, inkjet printers are cheaper they are slower. Yet, both printers use ink cartridges and will need to be changed. A good sensible solution to dealing with constantly changing cartridges is to use reusable cartridges.
Scanners
Scanners are machines you can scan just about anything and view it in soft copy on your laptop or computer. Meaning important documents like proof of purchase receipts, photos, contracts, and articles from newspapers or magazines, can be scanned and shared over email with friends or colleagues.
Want Production? Think Multifunction.
What is a Multifunction System?
According to the Multifunction Products Association, a multifunction system (MFP) is defined as “office equipment for paper management connected to a PC or network that handles two or more of the following functions: printing, scanning, copying or faxing.”
Everything You Need In One Device
The newest generation of MFPs provides important office functionality in one reliable device with the capabilities of printing, copying and scanning in full color.
Printing
An MFP works like any other laser printer, but also adds the type of finishing functionality you expect from a copier including stapling and two-sided printing.
Scanning
Revolutionize your office and scan documents into common digital formats like PDF, .jpeg or .tiff formats. These files can be sent to email addresses or to any folder on the network.
Tips for Evaluating Scanning Solutions Before You Buy: A White Paper For Purchasing A Scanning Solution For Your Digital Copier or Scanner
Total cost of ownership (TCO) attempts to quantify the costs associated with a specific product implementation over the lifecycle of the product. This type of analysis is essential to financial decision makers who must take a long-term view of IT spending above and beyond the initial acquisition costs. Office copiers and scanners must now be looked at in the same way.
- The goal is to answer questions such as:
“How much will it cost us to use this technology over the next five years (or the term of the copier lease)?” - “How much can our organization save by implementing
Vendor A’s solution compared to Vendor B’s?”
On any IT project, initial acquisition costs typically represent only a small percentage of the total cost of ownership. Much more significant are the “hidden costs” associated with a particular solution.
Security in the Office
In today’s office, multifunction devices can print, copy, scan to network destinations, send email attachments, and handle incoming and outgoing fax transmissions. If everyone has access to your multifunction printer, that means just about anyone can launch attacks against the network and network resources ranging from simple (picking up documents left in the output tray) to complex (distributing documents over the network or accessing confidential information).
Xerox is committed to helping you secure your environment and achieve your regulatory compliance objectives through systems, software and services designed to provide security that assures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of critical document and network assets.
